Project information

Auditorium improvements

Putney Arts Theatre is a thriving community arts hub, however our auditorium needs to become more welcoming, modern and functional for all our building's users. Whether we can improve our seating, climate control or overall aesthetics, we'd love for our main house to properly reflect our ethos.

Charity information: Putney Arts Theatre

Need

Our problem is two-fold, firstly that the main auditorium at Putney Arts Theatre is badly in need of improvements. Secondly, that whilst the theatre supports itself through earned income it is exceptionally difficult for us to factor in larger scale improvements beyond basic maintenance. At the moment, our auditorium is in use near daily by young people's classes or projects, rehearsals and frequent performances and is currently in need of a series of improvements across a number of areas.

Solution

Our project involves a long-running, concerted and diversified fundraising campaign which will allow us to prioritise areas for improvement in the auditorium. Each area will be tackled in order of urgency, providing a sense or momentum and whereby the most benefit is felt by our users fastest. Every improvement will help to propel the project on at each stage and give people the chance to greater enjoy the auditorium. The principle driving this is that each improvement answers a real need.

What success will look like

Impact

The overall project will provide a new lease of life to our auditorium, making it a far better space to both work in and enjoy. It will markedly increase comfort levels, improve the flow and aesthetics of the space and provide better options at generating income from the space. We will produce a report detailing the progress of the project, the impact that it has, this will be based on user feedback and collected data.

Risk

The main risk is not securing the full amount we need to complete the project in full. However, through prioritising our needs in order and parcelling out each area for improvement, we will ensure that aspects of the project can still be completed. Each aspect is hugely beneficial in it's own right and will be recognised and celebrated as such. With each are we do manage to improve we will use this as a catalyst to keep the project and fundraising running for each stage.

Reporting

Donors will be kept in the loop with newsletters, thank you emails, or postal communication if preferred. They will be kept in touch with during early stages of the project, to update on progress goals and upon completion of each stage of the refurbishment work.

Location

We are a community theatre and arts hub that has been running for more than 50 years in Putney, South West London. We serve a population that is both local to our borough and stretches beyond. We offer drama activities for those aged 4 years old and up. Over the last few years we have seen a steady increase in those that require concessionary or free access to our services. We are also home to an adult company whose membership covers those aged from 18 to pensioners.

Beneficiaries

All users of our auditorium which includes children and young people directly using our services. Our adult members and audience from the local community and further afield. It will also prove a boon to any visiting companies and artists and potentially provide an increased sound revenue stream to help the day to day running of the charity. On a practical level it will help to make it more welcoming and an easier space to use for all our users across ages and styles of engagement,

Why Us?

We have been in our building for nearly 50 years and understand the constraints and evolving needs of the space and its users. We are at the heart of local arts provision in the area and offer a unique set of opportunities for young and old alike. We have carefully considered what improvements need to take place and have deliberately parcelled them out to plan our fundraising and to cause minimal disruption to our users during the completion of the project.